Welcome to the ridge! I'm so happy to have Poetry Friday visitors. For more poetry offerings, visit Heidi, at her space, My Juicy Little Universe.

Spring has sprung all over the ridge! It has braved the storm once again. I took one look at this little house, and immediately thought, "What a home for the brave." At that moment, I knew I wanted to capture this idea of being brave as a writer and accepting whatever conditions may come. I imagined the brave bluebirds that would accept this little house as a home, despite the snares and snags along the way. Then, I thought about all of the brave writers I know who do just the same. They face the blank and empty page, trusting that they will have the words to fill it. Just as the bravest of bluebirds fills the little house with moss, and grass , and hope. When you're a writer, you have to be brave, and make a home for your words to grow. So fill the space inside, accepting what comes as good enough, barb after barb, stretch after stretch.

Bluebird house on the ridge

Invitation to Write:

Writers face challenges all the time. One of the greatest challenges writers often face is the blank page. I have to admit, I get stuck a lot! Whenever I feel myself freezing up over a blank page, I remind myself that it's okay to give my pen to the page without knowing where it may go. It's okay to accept what comes. And sometimes what comes, isn't quite what I want it to be, YET. So I keep writing, trusting that words will come! When you're a writer, you have to be brave, andknow that your words are enough.

Keisha, what a great metaphor....a bird house that is brave. We build nests and homes for our words. Thank you for this....I'm running with it.Have a great Poetry Friday and Poetry Month this April.

Reply

Irene Latham

3/30/2018 05:14:36 am

Dear Keisha, it has just now occurred to me that we both live on ridges! We are new to ours, and it's actually a bluff overlooking a lake.... but a ridge nonetheless! It's windy up here and at least 5 degrees cooler than the closest city. Here's to brave living and brave writing! xo

Love your "bluebird box" haiku Keisha! I can definitely relate to giving oneself over to the page–this happens in visual art too! We have birds and plants are trying to inch up, but it's still pretty cold here in Chicago, I'm looking forward to warmer temps and more buds, thanks!

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Heidi Mordhorst

3/31/2018 07:56:52 am

Kiesha, I love your brave little poem full of b words and bluebirds! It looks great against that photo. I don't have trouble so much with facing the blank page; it's more the getting it out there to audience part. : ) Wishing you a brave April!

Your poem affected life?! Yes, you can share your lovely poem and its great "after story" with the world... Submit now on LifePoemsProject.com

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Author

Welcome! I'm Kiesha Shepard, and I have a love for writing and the teaching of writing. Whispers From the Ridge is a place where I can share my words and ideas for teaching writing. It's also a place for you to find inspiration for writing the words inside of you. I invite you into my world of writing as I capture the whispers from the ridge.